MOSCOW, December 3. /TASS/. Russian Navy ships and aircraft of the Aerospace Forces conducted joint launches of sea-and airborne precision missiles during drills in the eastern Mediterranean, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported on Tuesday.

"During an exercise held on December 3 to practice the techniques of joint operations, the taskforces of the Russian Navy and Aerospace Forces conducted launches of sea-and airborne precision missiles in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. The frigates Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Gorshkov and Admiral Golovko operating as part of the Russian Navy’s strike force conducted launches of Tsirkon hypersonic missiles while the diesel-electric submarine Novorossiysk launched a Kalibr cruise missile at a sea target. Meanwhile, a Bastion coastal defense missile system crew conducted a combat launch of an Oniks missile from a designated area on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea," the ministry said in a statement.

All the designated targets were engaged by direct hits, it said.

The drills are running on December 1-3 under the direction of Navy Commander-in-Chief Admiral Alexander Moiseyev in accordance with the combat training plan of the Russian Armed Forces, it said.

During the drills, the Russian taskforce built up its capabilities in the eastern Mediterranean. The combined-arms strike and anti-submarine warfare forces established as a result of this buildup are conducting missile, artillery and torpedo firings and practicing bombing. Some combat exercises involve the comprehensive use of precision weapons and the latest armaments accepted for service with the Russian Navy and Aerospace Forces recently, the ministry reported.